Latest news in Dermatology on January 24th 2019 (1 of 1)

People with melanoma living in states with the highest number of melanoma diagnoses generally have better survival rates, according to a recent study that examined state-by-state data.

Researchers at the University of Utah Health in Salt Lake City (UT) undertook to determine if there were differences in the survival rates of people with melanoma based on their location. residence. The answer may be yes.

The study, now available in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, indicates a number of differences. For example, in areas where doctors make fewer diagnoses, the survival rate of a person is lower. The researchers also found that melanoma mortality was also higher in areas where the number of practicing physicians was higher.

"The discovery of a significant relationship between more doctors and the mortality was certainly surprising," says Dr. Zachary Hopkins, resident in internal medicine at U of U Health and first author of the journal.

Melanoma rates are parallel to better results

Dr. Hopkins adds, "This study is a bird's eye view of melanoma survival in [the] WE. We are interested in finding disparities in state health care systems in order to target specific states to improve personal care. "

To find these differences, the researchers looked at the survival data found in the US cancer database, extracted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They examined the mortality / incidence ratio for each state, which helped them to get an idea of ​​survival by relating mortality to the frequency of their diagnoses.

The team also examined other variables related to health care, such as the number of dermatologists and primary care physicians compared to the population of the region, the amount of health expenditure in the region per capita and the number of cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. were. The researchers also examined other demographic data, such as average household income, education level and health insurance status.

The study also indicated that people living in states where the incidence of melanoma was high, include Oregon, the state of Washington, Utah, Minnesota, Vermont and New Hampshire had better survival rates. By contrast, in states where melanoma cases are less common, such as Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Indiana, Illinois, and Nevada, survival rates were lower.

Melanoma rate and risk factors

According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and, though melanoma accounts for only a very small percentage of skin cancer cases (about 1%), it is the most deadly type. The American Cancer Society predicts that about 96,000 people will develop melanoma in the United States in 2019. She also estimates that about 7,200 people will die from the disease.

Melanoma is a type of cancer that starts in skin cells called melanocytes. If doctors do not detect it early, it can spread easily. Exposure to ultraviolet light, including sunlight, is a significant risk factor for melanoma. In addition, people who have a lot of moles on their skin are at higher risk than those with fewer moles. Light-skinned people are also at greater risk than their darker peers, and those with blue or green eyes or light hair also have an increased risk of developing melanoma.

The treatment of melanoma can include a number of different strategies based on cancer clbadification and the health of the individual. Treatments include surgery, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, which doctors can tailor to each person. Although survival rates vary, ongoing research aims to find new and more effective treatments.

What does this study mean to go forward?

This study revealed that there is a clear disparity in the results for people with melanoma based on their place of residence. The authors of the study believe that their findings could help improve care in areas where survival rates are the lowest.

Aaron Secrest, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Departments of Dermatology and Health Sciences of the U.S. Health University Populations. and lead author of the newspaper, said:

"The badysis tells us that two people with similar melanoma could have very different outcomes depending on where they live and the care they receive.We can use this information to improve care and help more. people to survive. "

-Aaron Secrest, PhD